Miss Tennessee:  She is an all around perfect contestant and has won me over for my 1st choice!

Miss Maine:  She is completely out of her element.  I honestly don’t know how she made it into the top 10.  She clearly has no confidence.

Miss Alabama: Her pictures are all gorgeous, but her hair has ruined her chances of winning tonight.  She needs to keep her hair straight…it’s much more becoming on her!

Miss Michigan: She is trying too hard in this competition.  She gets great scores, but poor thing tripped in her evening gown!

Miss Oklahoma: She has a personality that seems “real.”  I bet she has a lot of followers.  Her dress was just ok in my opinion.  Joan and Melissa loved it, but I thought it looked too old for her age.  Am I starting to sound like the judges on American Idol?  Dress your age!

Miss Missouri: Her dress was just plain AWFUL!  There is NO way around it!  It was all chiffon, but from top to bottom it was a COMPLETE MESS!  I loved the bottom bright yellow and it looked great against her skin color.  The top did NOTHING for her and was in discord from the bottom of the dress.  Get a stylist!

Miss California:  Looks great, but her dress seemed a little too tight.  Maybe she had too much to eat at the Miss USA pajama brunch?  No, seriously, though, she is still a top contestant.

Miss Virginia:  A bun in your hair?  Are you 80?  It didn’t look elegant, which is what I bet she was going for…it just looked old!

Miss Colorado:  She looked very sophisticated and elegant.  The pony tail in her hair helped contribute to her sophisticated look.

And now for the top 5……are my opinions in line with the judges????

I must say, though, I was distracted from the competition when Joan & Melissa Rivers appeared giving their opinions of the girls and their opinions of what the show was going to be like.  They were introduced as “fashion icons.”  Really???  How old is Joan Rivers?  And her daughter Melissa?  She only appears on shows as a “fashion icon & expert” because of her mom.  There are MUCH better people out there to comment on the fashion aspect of the show. 

As I continued watching, I became even more appalled at the way Joan was talking.  The Miss USA pageant is a competition that so many young girls watch and they dream about becoming Miss USA.  I know I did…if only I had longer legs!  I would be appalled if I had a daughter watching this show.  Joan’s language is NOT appropriate for Miss USA.  Here is a direct quote from Joan:  Did you know that they wanted me to literally be in the swimsuit competition?  But “all the men in the audience would have gone home and fantasized about having sex with their own wives.”  Does anyone really think that is funny?  Is that setting an example for all the young kids out there watching the show?   Donald Trump made an example of Carrie Prejean, which I thought was very respectable.  From watching the Celebrity Apprentice, I know he is a fan of Joan Rivers, but seriously?  Maybe it’s time for her to retire from this business.  She only reaches audiences of a certain age! 

On another note…Curtis Stone.  I personally love Curtis Stone and was so excited to see him host the show tonight.  But, does anyone think it’s strange that an Aussie is hosting Miss USA?  It doesn’t bother me at all, but I thought it was a bit ironic.  Mr. Trump…can we take this to mean that Curtis wins the Celebrity Apprentice, or is it all a big coincidence?

All in all I am still excited to watch the show and see what happens.  My 2 favs have just made it into the top 10…I always pick the winners!  We’ll have to wait and see what happens next…stay tuned!

Once you have your outfits picked out, head over to the Dallas Galleria for Beauty Live.  During this 3 day event, you will experience make up tips and fashion advice from some of the top professionals in the industry.  Be sure to get a make over from these celebrity experts before you leave.  I told you you wouldn’t have to empty your wallet…all events are FREE to attend.  Beauty Live runs from April 9 – April 11.

With your new wardrobe and your new look, you will be the talk of the town as you top off the night in downtown Dallas with your girlfriends.  No matter what hot spot you choose (and you can go anywhere with all the money you saved!), you will be sure to have a rockin’ time.

www.lenzcollection.com

www.thepromsonus.com

www.lenzcollection.com

-Ashley Lenz, Owner/Designer of LENZ Collection, www.lenzcollection.com

Picture List:

Bib Necklace- Vera Wang Jewelry, price upon request. Available at Bergdorf Goodman.

Platform Pump- The “Victoria” at Bakers stores ($79.95)

Sequined Vest- Forver 21 ($17.80)

Forget what you know about the glamour, the clothes, and the sexy image. It takes a lot more than that to spit out the next Calvin Klein.

Take a look around, they are the people waiting your table at Café Luxe, and serving your morning coffee; they are what some have termed as “struggling artists” or FFDA (future fashion designers of America). Thanks to shows like, “The Cut” and “Project Runway,” we have seen an in-depth look at the competition, and the hard production challenges FFDA’s endure, but there’s a lot more to it than that.

First there’s the education: did you know there are several degrees in fashion, ranging from merchandising, marketing, design, production, and many more in between. There’s also varying levels of said studies from a certificate to a master’s degree. Now comes the question, “Which school?” and “How do I get in?”

There are hundreds of colleges that are devoted to the arts in the US alone, and now there are traditional universities that have tailored their curriculum to include the study of fashion. Many of these schools have an easy admissions process; others require a semi-professional portfolio before they will even consider you for entry. Once you’ve chosen a school and become admitted, the next question to arise is, “How are you going to pay for it?”

One would think a degree in fashion couldn’t be that expensive. Sure, if you’re studying to be a doctor or a lawyer, you could be paying up to $175,000 for an education. But a fashion degree? Well, here’s the scoop; the average cost for a degree in fashion is around $37,000, and the price could go up to the hundred thousands. Of course, it depends on the school and type of degree you’re pursuing, but you get the picture.

Besides education, a FFDA must find an internship, and try to make it in the industry, which isn’t easy. No matter how talented you are, in the end, it usually comes down to who you know. So, the next time you are flipping through the latest Vogue and you see Stella McCartney sipping champagne with Naomi Campbell, just think to yourself; it takes a lot to become that glamorous. Stay with me, when next time I sit down with a real life Chicago FFDA, and give you the inside scoop on her outlook.

While the night was all about the designers’ designs and the models, Top Trendsetter found two diamonds in the rough, who we are sure will be up and coming designers in the years to come.  Jenna Cruciani, in a purple BCBG ruffle dress, and Brittany Kile, in blue mini with a Betsey Johnson pump, are seniors in the Dallas area who are both enrolled in FIDM San Diego for fashion design.  In talking to these girls, they have an eye and a passion for fashion.  Jenna’s style is more classic, while Brittany likes to add a little funk with her shoes and accessories.  Keep their names in your little black book, as they are sure to design some big hits soon!

Here are Top Trendsetter’s picks for the night in various categories:
Vintage: House of Dang by Doug Voisin & Andrew Bayer
Classic:  Ann Hoang by Ann Hoang           
Kids:      Sadie loves Kiki by Trish Hurless
 Simple & Sophisticated:  Ross Bennett by Ross Bennett
Accessories:  eddiejo jewelry by Eddie Nelson Barrett

-Megan

Ashley Lenz and Jennifer Lenz-McCoy

Going into summer it feels like our country is finally on a slow upswing again, and there is no reason your clothes should not reflect this ladies (and guys, too!). This time is full of hope and hot pink, the bright-side and bold blue, the sun and the happiest yellow you can find. Get the picture? Just remember that wearing color is like being out in the hot summer sun…you don’t want to OVER-do it. Pick one piece of your wardrobe that is nothing but a solid, vibrant, happy color and keep everything else pretty neutral. You don’t want people to come up to you and say, “1985 called and they want their clothes back,” do you? I didn’t think so. Take baby steps. Wear a pair of hot coral pumps and work your way up to a sunny yellow dress. Now go enjoy this fabulous weather, and don’t forget the sunscreen!